At the Buzzer: R1G1 — Pacers 117, Bucks 98
The Pacers had a balanced attack, played at their pace, and kept everyone other than Antetokounmpo in check for their first Game 1 win since 2018.
The Pacers are back in the playoffs for the second year in a row and facing the Milwaukee Bucks again in Round 1. Only this time, they have homecourt advantage after a 50-32 record in the regular season.
So Game 1 is in Indianapolis. It was a gold out, on national TV, and the first game of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Both teams have had a week between games and for the Pacers, All-Stars Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam haven’t played in almost 10 days. So they’re rested and ready for a postseason run.
The game officials were Josh Tiven, Curtis Blair, Tre Maddox, Brent Barnaky (alternate). Yes, they have an alternate in the postseason just in case something happens.
Pacers reserve guard Ben Sheppard is managing a left great big toe injury. He was held out of their final five regular season games and was available — but did not play. And, of course, center Isaiah Jackson remains out for the season with Achilles rehab.
The Bucks were without nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard (reconditioning) and Tyler Smith (left ankle sprain). The team announced on Thursday that Lillard was off blood-thinning medication and available for full contact in practice. It’s becoming likely that he will return from this concerning blood clot to his right calf just five weeks after his last game played — which is remarkable.
Lillard was on the bench in street clothes.
Sports books favored the Pacers by six points in Game 1.
Watch my live postgame show in the media player below:
🏀How it happened: The Pacers took the lead early and continued to add to it. Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo asserted himself right away, scoring six of the Bucks’ first eight points, but he didn’t get much help from his teammates. He went to the free-throw line 11 times in the first half, but made just five.
They’re going to show him different looks, send multiple bodies, and try to wear him down. Just in the first quarter, four players took on the challenge: Siakam, Nesmith, Turner, and Walker.
Jarace Walker is a good fit for this series, especially with Giannis, and he looked good in his 17 minutes — adding three points, five rebounds, along with defense.
The Pacers wanted to set the pace, and they did, grabbing rebounds and running at every opportunity. Their goal is to score before the defense is set, usually in eight seconds or less.
Myles Turner opened the game with a 3-pointer — his first time as a Pacer beginning a series at home — and Andrew Nembhard ended the half with one from 30 feet. They shot 60% in the first half, had balance (three double-figure scorers), and made all 10 free-throw attempts. Meanwhile, as Antetokounmpo carried the team on his back, this overhauled Bucks roster missed 14 of 16 3-point attempts.
The Pacers were a top-10 defense since the All-Star break, and that carried into the postseason. The Bucks averaged 125 points per game during their 8-game win streak to close the season, but were kept to below 100 in this one.
They threatened late, getting to within 12 with about four minutes left, but missed a few opportunities to trim it to single digits. There were a couple of trash-talking moments as well, with Bobby Portis — who heard cheers of “Bobby Sucks!” from Pacers fans — saying something to Tyrese Haliburton to end the third quarter. Then with less than two minutes left, and the game in hand, both Lillard and Gary Trent Jr. had something to say to Haliburton and Siakam.
Both teams struggled to score late, but that cushion for the Pacers helped them hold on as they went on a stretch with nine consecutive misses. Finally, Turner made a step-back 3-pointer with two minutes left — and that was the dagger.
🏀What it means: The goal in the playoffs is to win 16 games. There’s 1/16 for the Pacers, now with a 1-0 lead to begin a playoff series for the first time since 2018 against the Cavaliers.
🏀Turning point: The Pacers closed the half strong with a 22-7 run over the final six minutes to balloon their lead from nine to 24 at the break, 67-43. Haliburton made a couple of shots, Mathurin got to the foul line, and Nembhard finished the half with a 30-foot 3-pointer over Giannis.
🏀Star of the game: Antetokounmpo is the best player in the series, and he finished with 36 points and 12 rebounds in 38 minutes. But what Pascal Siakam did throughout the game, at both ends, stood out. He took on the challenge of guarding Giannis first and is a steady, reliable hand. He finished with a game-high 25 points (on 10-of-15 shooting) and seven rebounds.
🏀Streaking: The Pacers have won five of their last six playoff games against the Bucks.
🏀Stat(s) of note: The Pacers had a 22-5 advantage in fast break points, held the Bucks to 9 of 37 from distance, and won the rebounding battle (+2). Oh, and they only committed eight turnovers. That’s efficiency.
It was Bennedict Mathurin’s first playoff game since he was out last year due to shoulder surgery. And he was ready, finishing with 13 points and five rebounds off the bench.
The winner of Game 1 in a best-of-seven series wins the series 75% of the time. The Pacers went 0-3 in Game 1s during last year’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
It’s the Pacers’ 30th home win this season after going 29-11 in the regular season.
🏀What’s next: Game 2 is on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET in Indianapolis. (Click here for the full game schedule)
Other Notes
Haliburton’s first shot was a 3-point try halfway into the first quarter. By then, Antetokounmpo already had nine points. He was kept to 10 points (3 for 13), but also added seven rebounds and 12 assists.
Lillard and Siakam were given double technicals with 1:32 left in the game. Lillard was talking trash to Haliburton as the teams went to the bench, and then Siakam jumped in and said something to Gary Trent Jr. Since Lillard wasn’t dressed, his contributions were negative in this one.
Two of Indiana’s finest, Michael Grady and Stephanie White, had the national call for ESPN. Did you notice that Grady — a former public address announcer for the Pacers and Fever — dropped a subtle “trifecta” with 2:47 left in the half after Mathurin drilled a transition 3-pointer.
The Pacers’ playoff video intro began with Lil’ Wayne’s “Fireman.”
The National Basketball Coaches Association announced that Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson was voted the 2025 recipient of the Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award. The Cavs went 64-18 for the top seed in the East.
Rick Carlisle, president of the association: “Kenny Atkinson has long been respected by his peers as an innovative and humble servant to the game. Congratulations to Kenny on a historic season along with this prestigious recognition by his peers.”
In the stands: former Pacers Travis Best and Derrick McKey, owners Herb Simon and Steven Rales, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Caitlin Clark.
Official attendance: 17,274 — a sellout.
All fans in attendance received a gold t-shirt with “INDY” written inside a basketball — and every Pacers player name + number around the ball. The players chose to wear the icy white City Edition uniforms — which didn’t exactly go well with the gold.